Coin-Op Capability?

Midnighter

I'm trying to build a small novelty "fortune-telling" machine. Not for money, but as a great professional presentation 'conversation piece' for my work as a freelance graphic designer/artist/fabricator. I'd like to give my machine a sort of turn-of-the-last-century varnished, brass-handled antique look, complete with "5-cent" sign and coin slot in the side, so a person could put a nickel in and watch the little machine go, before it finally spits out a fortune card (with one side printed with my business info) for them to take. I'm trying to figure out how to manage a simple coin-op sensor system.

Mechanical or high-end electronic coin switches/mechanizers/validators are pretty expensive and it looks like I'd need to do some serious jerry-rigging to get them to work, much less get them talking to the rest of my setup via the BASIC module kit.

What I'm wondering is this: is it possible to maybe hook up one of Parallax's IR sensors into a very narrow-path slot? This way, when the coin slides in through the front plate that I'll have installed in the side of my fortune-telling machine's casing, it passes across and temporarily interrupts the IR beam, resulting in an activation command to the rest of the system. Then the coins could just continue to roll and fall into a small collection box.

Does this sound crazy, or is it doable? I keep thinking it should work, just like any IR application for catching something breaking its beam as an activator, but I'm so unfamiliar with these workings that I don't want to just buy an IR sensor and then find out it doesn't operate this way.

Does this sound like a viable way of applying the IR sensor, and if so are there any pitfalls I need to watch out for in setting it up? I've also considered if the touch sensor might be more suitable, or perhaps the magnetic field sensor. I just don't know for certain.

Thanks for any advice or feedback on this.

Post Edited (Midnighter) : 6/1/2007 6:06:06 PM GMT

Jonathan

Should be easy, since you aren't worried about folks using slugs. With three sensors, I would think you could accept all coins (US) and discern between them (2 readings for a dime, 5 for a quarter). You could also set it up to reject coins that ae not a nickel, but then you'd need to get some mechanics going.

Jonathan

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Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)

'Sounds like a fun project! If you're not concerned about people using pennies, slugs, and washers, a simple IR detector like you describe should work. Modern coin mechanisms are mechanical marvels that include magnets, anvils, and other assorted Rube Goldbergery to sort denominations and trap fakes. They do become available on the surplus market from time to time but would likely detract from the Victorian charm you're trying to project.

-Phil

LSB

The 'QT' sensor sold by Parallax would work well for this too. Has the added benifit of distinguishing between metal and wood--so you don't take any wooden nickels!

BobH

Sounds like an interesting project. Simple coin mechanisms can be had in the $15-$40 (a Google search will give you plenty of options). I was wondering how you are planning to vend the fortune cards? I've been playing with an automated business card dispenser idea for a while but haven't yet worked out a reasonable and reliable plan for the card vending mechansim.

Bob

Midnighter

Thanks for the pointers and confirmation on my thinking with respect to a simple IR sensor setup, although I like the idea of being able to clearly distinguish wood from metal (I don't mind slugs or washers at risk, since I don't intend on leaving the thing sitting out unattended anyway, and perhaps might even offer a small bowl of nickels for children to use, that sort of thing).

As for it being a business-card vending machine, I figure it's all about the presentation.

You can hand out a thousand of them and nobody cares. But I've learn from many friends of mine who are professional magicians that a bit of sleight-of-hand, a bit of entertainment, can really stick you in the minds of people you encounter.

Since I didn't want to try sleights-of-hand where I'll be predominantly using this (first in a mall Portfolio Show, then later for various trade events for graphic designers) and risking the same trick getting over-used in a crowd setting, I figure this is a way to go the 'next level' in making it a little entertaining to entice people to not just remember me, not just keep the card, but for new people coming up to actually WANT a card. If you can get them to notice you, good. If you can get them liking you and keeping the card, better. But I figure, if you get them actually interested in coming up for your card in the first place, then that's the best.

I don't want to get crazy with the coin-op capability--the coin-op slot is really little more than a familiar form for audience members to walk up and switch it on. I doubt at the turn-of-the-century price of a nickel a 'show,' I'd make back the cost of this thing in another hundred years anyway. The fun is in creating something truly unique and maybe even a little professionally advantageous. Everybody else is gonna have nice brochures, cards, even a video presentation or two. I doubt anybody else will have a little wonder like this with them (assuming I get it built myself, that is).

Geek_Girl

BobH said...
Sounds like an interesting project. Simple coin mechanisms can be had in the $15-$40 (a Google search will give you plenty of options). I was wondering how you are planning to vend the fortune cards? I've been playing with an automated business card dispenser idea for a while but haven't yet worked out a reasonable and reliable plan for the card vending mechansim.

Bob

The card vending isn't too tricky at all.

My day job is as the lead tech in a casino, so·currency recognition·and card handling (automated shuflers) is pretty familliar fare.

The easiest way would be to put a bundle of cards, turned·on their side and tilted back about 45 degrees,·on a slightly inclined surface with a rubber roller on a shaft at the front of the bundle and a wedge that can slide with the bundle as it depletes keeping the bundle pressed against the roller. Drive the roller with a stepper motor and it can pick off 1 card at a time.

Look at the picture of the card shuffler here:·· http://www.shufflemaster.com/assets/pdf/product_sheets/Ace.pdf··· to see what I was trying to explain.


Darlene